Administrative services A-Z

Online procedure possible: no

Written form required: yes (currently "written" legally means with signatures of management, applicant, animal welfare officer)

Personal appearance required: no

• Application for authorisation or notification of animal experiments
• Notification of the appointment of an animal welfare officer in accordance with Section 5 (1) of the Animal Protection Ordinance
• Personal form (for persons who are to be involved in an animal experiment project)

Experiments on animals are generally subject to approval. If you want to carry out animal experiments, you must apply to the LAVG. Certain tests are exempt from the permit requirement, which only need to be notified. As an applicant, you should first ask the LAVG whether your project on animals is an experiment at all under animal welfare law, and whether its approval must be applied for or whether the notification of the experimental project is sufficient. In any case, animal experiments may only be carried out for one of the purposes specified in the Animal Welfare Act. The approval/processing of the animal experiments and the examination of the expertise of the performers is the responsibility of the LAVG. The districts and independent cities are responsible for issuing the permit and monitoring the laboratory animal husbandry. The institutions that carry out experiments must appoint an animal welfare officer. The applications, but also the clarification of questions of animal husbandry, also the examination of the expertise should be carried out by you as the animal welfare officer.

Permitted purposes according to the Animal Welfare Act, the indispensability of which you must demonstrate, are

1. Basic research
2. Preventing, recognizing or treating diseases, ailments, bodily injury or physical ailments
3. Recognizing/influencing physiological states of humans and animals
4. Identification of environmental hazards,
5. Testing of substances or products
6. Development/testing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemicals or other substances and products
7. Species conservation

Note 1:

• The LAVG has to decide on the application within 40 working days. The period begins after formal completeness. The Animal Experimentation Commission, which has to cast its vote within the deadline, supports the LAVG, but does not make the approval decision. Seasonal trials (wildlife) should be planned well in advance; In case of doubt, the application must be submitted before the project is approved.

Note 2:

• Advertisements are not simply "noted" by the LAVG, but, like the applications, are extensively examined by the LAVG, without the involvement of the Animal Experimentation Commission. The experiment may not be started before 20 working days have elapsed after receipt by the LAVG.

Note 3:

• Records of the animal experiments are required in accordance with
  § 9 Animal Protection Act in conjunction with § 29 Animal Protection Ordinance and to present it at the request of the LAVG. 

Note 4:

• As an animal welfare officer, you must always be a veterinarian, from which the LAVG can approve exceptions. In addition to the requirements of § 5 TierSchVersV, it is an advantage from the authorities' point of view if you have scientific experience specific to the subject and animal species and with regard to the formal application. 

Note 5:

• Adjacent law must be taken into account by you as the applicant. This is part of the ancillary provisions of the animal welfare permit.

• Testing is essential, so it cannot be replaced by alternative methods, and has not been carried out in this way so far, a gain in knowledge is plausibly demonstrated
• Personnel requirements: If you manage, plan and carry out animal experiments, you must demonstrate expertise, in particular with regard to the stressful interventions and treatments, related to the procedure and the animal species
• necessary facilities, equipment and other material resources are available
• for animal experiments carried out in facilities, a husbandry permit is required for the corresponding animal species in accordance with § 11 TierSchG

Proof of competence (copies, degrees and proof of knowledge and skills)

As far as the experimental project is in the public interest: no costs

Insofar as the experimental project does not apply to at least a predominantly public interest Fee for the granting of a permit to carry out an animal experiment project in accordance with Section 8 (1) of the Animal Welfare Act: EUR 50.00 – 300.00

You can apply for permission to carry out animal experiments in writing using the form provided:

• Download the form online and print it.
• Fill out the form and add the necessary supporting documents.
• Submit the application documents to the LAVG.
• The districts and independent cities are responsible for issuing the permit and monitoring the laboratory animal husbandry.
• Transfer the desired fee if the experimental project does not serve at least a predominantly public interest.

If necessary, a notification with the form provided is sufficient.

Validity period for permits and notifications: maximum for 5 years

State Office for Occupational Safety, Consumer Protection and Health (LAVG)

State Office for Occupational Safety, Consumer Protection and Health (LAVG)

Postfach 90 02 36

14438 Potsdam

Phone: 0331 8683535 and 0331 8683534

tierversuche@lavg.brandenburg.de

9.7 (in particular 9.7.4) of the Schedule of Fees of the Ministry of the Environment, Health and Consumer Protection (GebOMUGV)

• Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
• §§ 7 – 10 Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG)
• § 11 Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG)
• § 15 Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG)
• General administrative regulation for the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act (AVV)
• Animal Welfare Laboratory Animal Ordinance (TierSchVersV)
• Laboratory Animal Reporting Ordinance (VersTierMeldV)

• Website of the State Office for Occupational Safety, Consumer Protection and Health (LAVG) on the subject of animal welfare and animal experiments
• Stress table (scientifically justified explanation of the severity of the animal experiment)
• Non-Technical Project Summary for Applications (NTP)

Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection